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Post Office Box 7829 Board of Directors Portland, Maine 04112 Mr. Peter Anania 207.321.2550 phone Timothy J. Bryant, Esq. 207.773.4385 fax Mr. www.MainePolicy.org Mr. Peter Ciriello Thomas A. Connolly, Esq. Mrs. Jinger Duryea The Honorable Neal B. Freeman Mr. W. R. Jackson, Jr. Mr. Jeff Kane James Ward, JD Working together to advance the cause of liberty… join the fight!

s Mark Twain so eloquently put it, “No man's life, liberty, or created The Maine Wire – the fastest growing political news website property are safe while the legislature is in session.” Well in the state. A guess what, it's that time of year where the start of yet another legislative session is just around the corner. The Maine Wire is written by conservatives, for conservatives and is delivering news that conservatives care about, bringing truth to I don't know about you, but if you are anything like me, it makes my media narratives and political debate, one story at a time. Our stomach cringe to know that with the start of every legislative hard-hitting stories are working to drive the political conversation session we face the possibility of increased taxes and less freedoms. and forcing the mainstream media to report the truth. The success of MHPC’s The Maine Wire is proof that liberal media bias does indeed Fortunately though, conservatives have a strong, united voice in The exist. Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC). Here at The Maine Heritage Policy Center, we understand that our Most of you reading this already know we are Maine’s foremost con- shared values and conservative principles are under attack. servative “think-tank” or policy center. You know what we do, what we stand for, and what we have accomplished here at MHPC. Rest assured though… rest assured in knowing that The Maine Heritage Policy Center is committed to the battles ahead, that we will MHPC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational continue press forward in the fight to preserve our freedom and organization based in Maine. We work to formulate and promote hold our politicians – and the liberal media – accountable. free-market, conservative public policies in the areas of limited government, economic growth, tax and fiscal policy, health care, So, how can you help? education, constitutional law and government transparency —providing solutions that benefit all Maine citizens. I want you to tell your family and friends, your neighbors and co-workers, everyone you can… anyone that will listen. Ours’ is a If you have been following us online or attending any of our nearly battle for hearts and minds, and every MHPC member and Maine 30 events – you know we are fighting to advance the cause of liberty Wire reader brings us closer to a prosperous Maine. and working to Free Maine. Working together, we will advance the cause of liberty. Will you join You know we are providing solutions to grow Maine’s economy and the fight? address Maine's welfare problems. In Liberty, Since the left controls Maine’s mainstream newspapers, it can be hard for liberty-minded folks to get the truth about what’s happening in Augusta and Washington, D.C. That’s why MHPC

Scan here with your smartphone to J. Scott Moody CEO & Chief Economist shop now and support MHPC. J. Scott Moody CEO & Chief Economist The Maine Heritage Policy Center Join the Movement to Free Maine! The Maine Heritage A Day on the Road with Paul: Other media Policy Center is proud to be outlets promptly left Washington County ree ME is a bold initiative that than make up for the “lost” revenue Maine’s foremost will free Maine. It is a realistic to government. Free ME is a following the Governor’s remarks about the conservative, free-market closing of the Edmunds boat launch. (They F strategy for spurring econom- revolutionary idea for Maine that will egislative Council: The Maine Wire Obamacare: The Maine Wire reported hurried home to write stories about how ic development statewide. make the state more competitive and think tank.

delivered breaking coverage of the exclusively on changes to Maine's individual unnecessary it was given that the partial more business-friendly. Free ME will Maine has the opportunity to become Legislature’s Executive Council and and small group health insurance markets federal shutdown had already concluded.) stop the bleeding and jump-start the L America’s premier destination for MHPC by the determinations as to which bills will come due to Obamacare. Through several weeks Unlike the mainstream press, The Maine economic recovery that is so urgently economic freedom and growth. before the Legislature in January. Our of investigative reporting, we uncovered Wire spent the day with Governor LePage in needed. coverage showed how the six-person that more than ten thousand Mainers will Washington County as he toured Free ME will put Maine back on the With more job creation, prosperity Democratic majority on the council lose their current insurance plans due to businesses, a local school and a hospital. path to prosperity. Just think what it and opportunity, Free ME has the effectively blocked a host of Republican- the president's signature health care The result? A story that shows the side of  7 active websites would mean for Maine to become ability to decrease government backed bills, including welfare reform reform plan. Paul LePage the and the “tax haven” of the northeast, dependence, which sadly has reached with 000 unique visitors proposals and a bill to help homeless would never report where entrepreneurs can thrive, epidemic proportions in our state.  8 public Facebook pages veterans. Furthermore, we reported on. where retirees can enjoy more of More than one out of every three exclusively on the Democrat-controlled and 1 public profile with a what they have saved, where families Mainers is dependent on the welfare council’s decision to kill a bill from Teachers union unhappy with Obamacare? can keep more of what they have MHPC’s Free ME Initiative received total of 5,788 fans and national recognition at the State system, and those numbers will only Republican Representative Amy Volk of The Maine Wire reported exclusively on the earned. Policy Network's 21st Annual continue to climb unless we act now friends Scarborough. Our reporting on Volk’s bill – Maine Education Association having an Free ME will turbo-charge the state’s Meeting as the "Most Promising to turn things around.  43,083 monthly average and on the media’s initial refusal to cover epiphany that maybe Obamacare isn’t all economy and make Maine a Concept" for freedom and liberty the story – eventually reached a tipping it’s cracked up to be. In a story the main- amongst the network's 59 affiliated If adopted, Free ME will keep the Facebook reach destination for capital and point, with numerous other outlets picking stream media are still ignoring, we think-tanks for 2013. flame of freedom burning brightly for  5 twitter accounts with a up the story. Just like when we caught uncovered how current teachers and investment. The economic growth generations to come and FREE total of 1,631 followers Congressman Mike Michaud telling tall tales Federal Overreach: The Maine Wire was retirees are about to have their insurance and prosperity that follow will more MAINE. in his first campaign ad, the mainstream first to break the story about the federal plans cancelled or dramatically restructured  Active accounts with 8 media was compelled to acknowledge our government’s inexplicable decision to close – and how they’re actively seeking an social media sites coverage. a state-owned, state-run park in exemption from the Obama administration Visit www.FreeME.us and get Involved.  28 events hosted with Washington County. Our exclusive coverage in order to avoid increased premium costs. The result? All of the Democrats on the of the event culminated in Governor LePage 1,210 attendees includ- council have now signaled a willingness to travelling to the Edmunds Township boat ing 120 first-time at- support Volk’s legislation. This small victory launch and subsequent reports in every tendees shows yet again that through relentless, state newspaper and multiple television Connect with GreatSchoolsforME.org online: fact-based reporting, The Maine Wire is outlets. The Maine Wire’s story was also S. E. Robinson hanks to the enduring work of The Maine changing the political discussion in Maine featured in a write-up from the Washington Editor Heritage Policy Center and Governor LePage, and forcing the mainstream media to Times. The Maine Wire T three more charter schools opened their doors report on issues conservatives care about. for the first time this fall for a grand total of five charter schools in Maine. Connect with The Maine Wire online: @TheMaineWire or Facebook.com/MainePolicyNews  Baxter Academy for Technology & Science (2013) MaineOpenGov.org  Cornville Regional Charter School (2012)  Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences (2013) MHPC’s Center for Open Government  Harpswell Coastal Academy (2012)  n the issue of Medicaid expansion, we have requested Although our efforts to bring transparency to the legislature Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (2012) copies of Democratic lawmaker’s communications typically have been stymied at every turn with exorbitant fees and between liberal advocacy groups like the Maine unnecessary delays, we are excited to announce that in the coming In September, seven proposed charter schools submitted manufacturing companies to showcase the operation of People’s Alliance, Maine Equal Justice Partners and the months, The Maine Wire will release a special report on not only letters of intent to the Maine Charter School Commission, their machines which require a high level of knowledge OMaine Center for Economic Policy. the contents of our public record requests, but the frustrating indicating plans to open schools in the fall of 2014. and skill in techno logy and engineering, process of getting elected officials to comply with the Freedom of — — We have also requested all communications exchanged between Amanda Clark celebrated National Manufacturing Day Currently, GreatSchoolsforME.org has 542 Facebook fans. top Democrats and the federal government vis-à-vis the Centers for with community leaders, students, and parents on Friday, Since August, more than 12,000 people have visited Medicare and Medicaid. These documents will show how efforts to MaineOpenGov.org… October 4 at Mega Industries in Gorham. The goal of this www.GreatSchoolsforME.org with an average duration of drastically expand Maine’s dysfunctional Medicaid system are being event, hosted by the Manufacturers Association of Maine, the taxpayers’ watchdog for 1 minute plus, garnering more than 2,300 page views in pushed by left-leaning interest groups and the Obama was to educate students about new job opportunities in just less than three months. administration. everyday Mainers the field of manufacturing and to encourage

THE MAINE HERITAGE POLICY CENTER ImpactReport